Let's Shop Gatlinburg!

Whether you're on spring break this week or maybe just headed to the Smokies this weekend for a little R&R, there's a good chance that you plan to make shopping part of your travel plans. This week, we'll focus on just one of the many ways you can put those plans into action-the shopping opportunities that await in Gatlinburg, TN.

Gatlinburg shopping encompasses a wide range of destinations, and probably one of the best known is the Great Smokies Arts & Crafts Community. This 8-mile auto loop that includes Glades Road, Buckhorn Road and U.S. 321 features more than 70 different arts an crafts shops and studios, featuring the handiwork of some of the region's most talented artisans. You'll find everything from handmade jewelry, brooms, wood pieces and metal work to paintings, photography, candles, pottery and more.

Many of the shops double as studios so you can often visit with the crafts people while they're at work. The Arts & Crafts Community also features a number of interesting eateries, including the Fox & Parrot, a British-style pub.

The other center for shopping in Gatlinburg is the downtown area, where the Parkway features shop after shop after shop. Look for traditional souvenir-type stores and T-shirt shops to venues featuring the works of even more mountain crafts people and artisans.

A couple of locations-Mountain Mall, which is near Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, and Ober Gatlinburg-have multiple stores and vendors on hand that offer a wide selection of merchandise in one convenient indoor location. You can find many unique items throughout the shops in town. Don't miss your opportunity!

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